By John Ikani
Nigerian singer Rema’s hit song “Calm Down” keeps adding accolades to its already impressive list.
It’s now the most-streamed Afrobeats song ever in the US, according to music data tracker Chart Data.
Chart Data declared “Calm Down” the “first Afrobeats song in history” to surpass one billion on-demand streams in the US.
They previously hailed it as the “most successful African song of all time” last year.
Billboard magazine’s music experts attribute the song’s success to its captivating nature.
They describe it as a “melancholy slow jam with a subtly hypnotic pull,” a track that lingers in listeners’ minds and keeps them coming back for more.
Released in February 2022 as a single from Rema’s debut album “Rave and Roses,” “Calm Down” soared to new heights when the 24-year-old singer (real name Divine Ikubor) collaborated with American pop star Selena Gomez on a remix.
The remix reached the one billion stream mark on streaming giant Spotify.
“Calm Down” also became the first African song to remain on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for a full year, peaking at number three.
This cemented its position as the highest-charting song ever led by an Afrobeats artist.
The remix, with nearly 894 million views on YouTube, currently holds the title of the most-watched music video by a Nigerian artist.
This phenomenal success has propelled Rema into the spotlight alongside other prominent Nigerian Afrobeats stars like Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Davido.
Rema himself defines his unique Afrobeats style as “Afrorave,” further solidifying his place as a leading innovator in the genre.
